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SINGAPORE : Singapore's wet markets are not utilising land in the best possible way, especially in land-scarce Singapore, says Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
He added that it is something to look into in the longer term.
Mr Goh was at the official opening of the new S$18.2 million Geylang Serai Market on Sunday.
The new Geylang Serai Market has an increased seating capacity with 365 wider stalls.
The Malay community likes the Geylang Serai Market because all the products and foodstuff sold here are "halal".
Mr Goh said: "But that does not mean that the market can be designated as a 'halal' market because this is a public market with funds from the government and public. It is not a private market. And it is a common space for all Singaporeans.
"So as a public common space, it cannot be designated as a 'halal' market , because then other communities will demand a Buddhist market, a Christian market...that is not possible.
"But I personally favour the ability of the market to retain this character of the Geylang Serai Market, and selling mostly 'halal' food, maybe even all 'halal' food. But this is left to market forces.
"If you want to open a non-halal stall over here, the demand for your item may not be there. Why not consider elsewhere? But it is for them to decide, not for the government to designate. Any tender must be open to everybody."
With several new blocks springing up around the Geylang Serai Market, Senior Minister Goh emphasised that it is important for the market stalls to cater to the needs of all races. So the kinds of stalls being set up in the Geylang Serai Market will be very much left to market forces to decide.
Mr Goh noted that there would be more Chinese and several Indian families staying in these new blocks.
He said: "There are a few new blocks which of course will be multi-racial in character, and there will be more Chinese staying in the new blocks. So the question I ask is, where will the Chinese population and Indian population go to shop?"
Mr Goh said that if a stall becomes available in the Geylang Serai Market, some stall holder may want to cater to the non-Muslims in the area.
He said: "There is a supermarket in the Joo Chiat Complex and the supermarket was set up to cater to the needs of non-Malays. And there is the Marine Parade market nearby. The Chinese can go there and buy other foodstuff.
"So again, we leave it to the market forces. So long as the non-Muslims' needs are met in the area, then we should be able to retain the traditional character of the Geylang Serai Market."
While Mr Goh believes there is a need to look into the amount of space wet markets utilise, some Singaporeans will still prefer going to wet markets rather than supermarkets, because many still want to touch and feel the items before buying them.
Mr Goh said: "Why is it popular, because all of us are traditionalists, we are brought up to go to wet markets, we are able to poke at the fish, touch the fruits before you buy them and check with the stall holders.
"You go to the supermarket, you are unable to check and bargain; here we can do all sorts of things." - CNA/ms
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